Although The Great War ended nearly a century ago, its global impact has not been forgotten.

Nor should it.

In the spirit of this, baritone John Brancy and pianist Peter Dugan will take the stage for “A WWI Memorial In Song” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville.

“The First Division Museum and Cantigny Park are excited to be hosting the first stop on the duo’s 2018 U.S. tour before they perform at the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and other prestigious venues,” said Cantigny’s Laura Sears. “This is big for us and big for Naperville.”

Originally debuting in 2014 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the poignant program is a “centennial tribute to the war that changed the world.” Other upcoming stops on this tour include the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The music selections are infused with the era’s emotions of war.

“This concert is a tribute to composers who lived, fought and died during World War I,” Sears said. “However, what makes this concert unique is it features not just American composers but also British, German and French.”

“Music is a living artifact from the past,” Sears said. “Performers like John Brancy and Peter Dugan can bring music to life, that while written by veterans of the past, can still move us and inspire us to peace a century later.”

Of course, the First Division Museum and Cantigny Park in Wheaton have a direct connection to this pivotal part of world history.

“World War I had a significant impact on the life of Col. Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny’s benefactor,” Sears said. “McCormick, who previously served with the Illinois National Guard, volunteered for service in World War I with the First Division. He also commanded an artillery unit at the Battle of Cantigny in France 100 years ago.”

This connection to the museum has not been lost on the musicians.

“These hallowed halls resonate with the stories of the First Division infantry who’s legacy, which began in 1917, lives on today,” Brancy said. “We hope that these songs will remind audiences of the horrors they faced and help them to remember their sacrifice.”

The concert is testament to those lost and those forever changed by World War I.

“Guests will get to experience the enduring power of music and art even during times of war,” Sears said.